Haitian Earthquake, Poverty, and Culture

As bodies are being recovered in Haiti and in what one hopes is at the very least the midst of the devastation but more likely its infancy, the armchair analysis of why the earthquake's effects are so tragic in Haiti have already started.  Pat Robertson has offered his take, Haitians made pact with the devil, which is why they're so cursed.  John Stossel has offered his take, which is that Haiti lacks economic freedom.  And NY Times columnist David Brooks, not to be outdone by Robertson and Stossel, chimes in with the old chestnut that Haitians are poor because of their culture.  Of the three, I find Brooks the most problematic not least because I have always thought of Brooks as one of the more thoughtful and reflective prominent columnists.